Google has brought its motion sickness relief feature to Android, where it is called Motion Assist. The tool was previously introduced by Apple in 2024 as part of iOS 18, and Google's version is now available on Android. Access requires a device running Android 17 or higher along with updated Google Play Services. Owners of the new Pixel 11 models can try it immediately, while Samsung phones must be running One UI 9.
Motion Assist works by using the device's motion sensors to move small shapes around the edges of the screen in response to a vehicle's movements. Google says the effect helps the brain synchronize what the eyes see with what the body feels, addressing the mismatch that causes nausea. The shapes hover and shift in real time but stay at the display's edges, so content in the middle of the screen remains unobscured. Google states the feature is intended for passengers and should not be used by anyone who is driving.
On Pixel phones, the feature can be turned on through the Settings app. Users navigate to their profile, select All services, and then toggle Motion Assist on from the Personal & device safety menu. The article notes that menus may differ on other brands, and searching for "Motion Assist" in settings may be the most direct way to locate it.
Google also offers a way to have Motion Assist activate without manual input. In the Motion Assist settings, users can turn on an option labeled Start automatically in a moving vehicle, which is meant to prevent motion sickness on future rides. Because the phone's motion sensors may have difficulty detecting when a car is moving, Google recommends adding Motion Assist to the Quick Settings menu so it stays a couple of taps away.
Customization options let users adjust the colors, opacity, and shapes that appear when Motion Assist is active. These controls are found in a Customize menu accessible from the Motion Assist settings. A Randomization option changes the colors and shapes during use.
The rollout mirrors Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues, which offers similar customization. Google's feature is free to use and built into supported devices, giving US Android users on the required software a passenger-focused tool for reading or watching content in a moving vehicle. The company continues to position the feature as a comfort aid rather than a replacement for other motion sickness remedies.
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